I had an opportunity to attend my fifth grader’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Day this year, and I have to say it was well put together, but there was something missing that I have rarely seen presented at the grade school level.
Let me paint a picture. STEM Day is a district-wide event where fifth graders are bussed to the middle school and seventh graders run large experiments for the students, with parent and teacher help and involvement. There were different pods, so to speak, with similar experiments in each pod. It was very well run with some exciting and engaging experiments.
Here’s the challenge: From what I see, career awareness is not connected to STEM in the early elementary school days. We did have a second-grade teacher that had parents come in to speak about their careers. I suppose the students were introduced to different career paths then, but that was it.
From my research, it seems CTE (career and technical education) courses often begin in middle school and in some cases not even until high school. I am sure there are many reasons for this. I am sure funding is at the top of the list. In fact, our STEM Day as it currently stands is at risk of being cancelled next year due to funding.
Here’s the hard question no one is asking: Isn’t career awareness important at all levels? Shouldn’t we be having these conversations in grade school? Shouldn’t we be connecting those dots for our children?
I am certainly doing that at home, but I am not sure how many parents are. Marginalized students may not have access to resources that depict a wide variety of career options. And when students are 7-11 years old, that is the perfect time to begin talking about career awareness.
Research continues to show early exposure matters. Studies have found students who are introduced to STEM concepts and careers in elementary school are more likely to remain interested in those fields later in life. One national survey found that adults working in STEM careers today often had meaningful exposure to STEM between the ages of 5 and 8.
Another study noted students who expressed interest in science-related careers by eighth grade were significantly more likely to eventually earn STEM degrees. In other words, career interests do not suddenly appear in high school. They begin developing much earlier, often before students even realize it.
I appreciate the second-grade teacher who brought in parents to speak. I appreciate all the efforts for STEM Day in our district. All these things are needed, but I am just wondering if we need more.
STEM activities are exciting on their own, but when students can connect those activities to real people and real careers, the learning becomes more meaningful. A science experiment is fun but understanding that the experiment relates to careers in engineering, construction, medicine, environmental science, robotics, or technology can expand a child’s sense of what is possible for their future.
For students who may not naturally have access to those conversations at home, schools can play a critical role in opening those doors. I think it might be something worth exploring.
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